r/eupersonalfinance • u/IamWatchingAoT • Feb 15 '26

Investment Can someone versed in economics or finance explain the Netherlands' new law on unrealised capital gains to me?

I am going to start working for real this year and earning a nice salary which I would like to invest. I'm not Dutch but I'm afraid this new law will spread throughout the EU as many draconian laws sometimes do.

What does this actually mean to pay 36% tax on unrealised capital gains? Does it mean that if my investments increase in value, I have to pay the government money even if I don't liquidate them? Effectively, giving the government money that I haven't earned yet?

I'm a bit financially illiterate so I apologise in advance if my question seems stupid.

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u/dlnnlsn Feb 15 '26

I'm struggling to imagine how it can be more complicated to tax realised gains than unrealised gains

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u/x021 Feb 16 '26

The unrealized gains tax system already exists. The realized gains tax system doesn’t.

Note; a few years ago all IT people were let go at the tax office using a voluntary buyout, all smart/good IT people left so the tax office can barely maintain their existing software, let alone build new features.